Oil pressure regulator



y 1940- G. J. WOREL I I OIL PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Sept. 29, 1938AZZOTTZZaS Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,202,074 011. PRESSUREREGULATOR Glen J. Worel, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to ThextonManufacturing Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation ofMinnesota Application September 29, 1938, Serial No. 232,337

4 Claims.

ports formed in some of the lower working parts subjected to saidpressure. In many instances the cam shaft bearings of such enginesbecome sufficiently worn to permit leakage of' an excessive amount ofoil with the result that proper pressure cannot be maintained in thesystem and an insufiicient amount of oil is delivered to the crank shaftbearings. Damage due to reduced oil pressure and consequent improperdistribution is not confined to the main bearings alone, but oftenaffects the other above recited parts. Most automotive engines do nothave removable cam shaft bearings, and consequently only with difficultyand considerable expense could a motor of the type described bereconditioned to eliminate the leakage of oil and reduction of pressurecaused by worn crank shaft bearings.

An object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive means forobtaining proper distribution of oil in engines having worn cam shaftbearings without the need for replacing said bearings.

A more specific object is to provide a simple, readily insertable devicefor restricting flow of oil to worn cam shaft bearings, whereby normaloil pressure may be maintained, thus assuring delivery and spraying ofadequate oil to all oil lubricated parts of the engine.

A further and important object is to provide in a device of the classdescribed, means for accurately locating and maintaining an oilrestriction at a point to prevent excess flow of oil to the cam shaftbearings while nevertheless assuring unrestricted delivery of oil to themain bearings and other oil lubricated parts.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willmore fully appear from the following description made in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer tothe same or similar parts throughout the various views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an auto- .motive engine of a typeadapted for use of my device therein;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the engine of Fig. 1drawn to enlarged scale with an embodiment of my invention operativelyas- ,5, sociated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a broken, partially sectional view, drawn to enlarged scale ofanother form of my device, and

Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, illustrate still other forms of my device.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 show an automobile engine Ehaving main crank shaft bearings 8 and cam shaft bearings 9 lubricatedby oil delivered thereto under pressure. The engine E includes a crankcase casting it] including cross pieces Illa each of which carries acrank shaft bearing 8 and a cam shaft bearing 9. The crank case castingH] is provided with a longitudinally extending oil header duct llsupplied with oil under pressure in a conventional manner. Each crosspiece Illa is provided with a duct [2 therein intersecting the headerduct II for communication therewith andextending to and communicatingwith the corresponding cam shaft bearing 9 for delivery of oil thereto.A branch duct l3 runs from the medial portion of the duct I2 to thecorresponding one of the main bearings 8 for delivery of oil thereto andmay be lined with a tubular element I311 as shown. The ducts II, I2 and93 are formed within the material of the crank case casting so in asuitable manner as, for example, by coring. The portion l2a of the duct62 extending from the cam shaft bearing 9 to the junction between thebranch ducts l2 and I3 may be considered as one of two branch ducts fedfrom a main duct constituting the portion of the duct l2 extending fromthe header duct II to said junction. The duct 12 extends at its righthand end, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, to the right hand outer face ofthe crank case casting l0 and is closed at its right hand end by meansof a screw-threaded plug IQ engaged in internal screw-threads formed inthe portion of the crank case casting In defining the right hand end ofthe duct I2.

In an engine such as the engine E which has not as yet become worn toany extent in any of its parts, oil delivered through the duct l2 willso divide between the branch ducts l3 and l2a that the proper amount ofoil for thorough lubrication will be delivered through each of thebranch ducts i3 and H211 to the bearing served thereby. In the usuallubrication system, 011 delivered through the duct I3 not onlylubricates the main bearing 8, but is also conducted by suitable meansto the connecting rod bearings, and oil sprayed from the main andconnecting rod bearings is relied upon for lubrication of various partsincluding the wrist-pins and pistons to which the oil is delivered bymeans of spray effect. In many engines such as the engine E, the camshaft bearings 9, when wear thereof has progressed to a certain extent,permit passage therepast of an excessive amount of oil. The excessiveflow of oil to the cam shaft bearings results in lessening the pressurein the lubrication system and consequently in an inadequate supply ofoil to the main bearings with the accompanying danger of damage to themain bearings, connecting rod bearings, wrist pin bearings, pistons andother parts. This dangerous condition is ordinarily corrected atconsiderable expense by replacing the cam shaft bearings.

In accordance with my invention I provide quickly and easily installedmeans for restricting the flow of oil through the branch ducts We to thecam shaft bearings 9.

Referring to the form of my device shown in Fig. 2, I provide a screwthreaded plug l5 to be substituted for the plug l4 previously described.An elongated element l6, such as a metal rod, is mounted on the innerside of the plug IE to project therefrom through the duct l2 to a pointwithin the branch duct 12a as shown. The rod [6 is of less diameter thanthe duct l2 so as to leave space around the rod l6 for passage of oil. Acircular element I! for restricting flow of oil in the branch duct 12ais mounted on the free end of the rod IS. The element ll is slightlysmaller in diameter than the branch duct 52a and is preferably beveledat the outer side thereof. The element I! greatly limits the crosssectional area of the space therearound through which oil flows to thecam shaft bearing 9. This restriction prevents excessive flow of oil tothe cam shaft bearing 9 and, hence, enables the maintenance of normaloil pressure in the ducts H and I2, so that an adequate supply of oil isthus delivered through the duct l3 to the main bearing 8.

In cases where a conduit coupling is used in place of the plug 14, mydevice takes the form shown in Fig. 3. An axially bored plug 18 isprovided to be substituted for the plug Hi. The plug I8 is apertured andinternally screw threaded at lSa to receive any conventional type offitting for connecting a conduit to the plug IS. A rod l9 generallysimilar to the previously described rod I6 is mounted in the plug I8 toproject inwardly from the inner side thereof and an oil restrictingelement 20, similar to the previously described element 17, is mountedon the free end of the rod i9. To enable passage of oil between the ductl2 and any conduit connected to the plug 58, the rod i9 is provided witha diametrical aperture l9a communicating with an axially extendingaperture l9b which is in communication with the apertured and internallyscrew threaded portion lfla of the plug 23.

In cases where it is not desired to replace the plug !4 with anotherplug, the rod of my device may be arranged to fricticnally restrain thesame from longitudinal movement in the duct 12. The forms of my deviceshown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, are of such a type and, when the plugii is temporarily removed, may be driven into position in the duct l2.

The form of the device shown in Fig. 4 includes an oil restrictingelement 2! carried by a rod 22. The end of the rod 22 opposite theelement 2| is bent back upon itself to form a relatively resilient loop22a. The maximum width of the loop 22a is such that the same when driveninto the duct l2 will be in firm frictional engagement with portions ofthe casting H] defining the duct l2. After driving the device of Fig. 4into place within the duct (2, the plug l4 may be replaced in its normalposition.

In the device of Fig. 5, I provide an oil restricting element 23 carriedby a rod 24. The end 2 m of the rod 24 opposite the element 23 isflattened, split and spread as shown, so that the spread portion thusformed may frictionally engage portions of the casting l0 defining theduct l2 in much the same manner as the loop 22a of the device shown inFig. 4.

The device shown in Fig. 6 functions in the same manner as the formspreviously described, but is so designed that it may be made from sheetmetal so as to avoid the type of machine operations required inconstruction of the previously described forms. A strip 25 of sheetmetal slightly narrower than the diameter of the duct I2 is notched andshaped at its left hand end as viewed in Fig. 6, to form a disk' 25ajoined to the main portion of the strip 25 by a neck 2% of reducedwidth. The neck 25b is bent in such a manner that the disk 25a will bedisposed concentrically of the longitudinal axis of the strip 2'5 in aplane normal to said axis. The duct 25:: constitutes an oil restrictingelement functioning in the same manner as the oil restricting elementsll, 29, 2| and 23 of the previously described forms of the device. Theright hand end portion of the strip 25 is provided with an aperture 25cand the apertured portion is spread so as to have a width such that theapertured portion will frictionally engage the portions of the castingiii defining the duct I? in much the same manner as the loop 22a of Fig.4, or the spread portion 24a of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 7 I show a device wherein a spherical element 26 of slightlyless diameter than the branch duct iZa is utilized as an oil restrictingelement. The spherical element 25 is mounted on a rod 21 which may bearranged at its right hand end for retention in the duct 52 inaccordance with any one of the forms of the device shown in Figs. 2 to 5inclusive. The combinative functions of all forms of my invention shownin Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive, with the oil ducts of the automotive engine,is substantially identical. In each instance the oil restricting elementis anchored and spaced a predetermined distance from the entrance to oilduct I2 and at a point inwardly of a connection between oil duct l2 andthe branch duct l3. In such position flow of oil to the branch duct I3is always unrestricted, while the passage of oil through ducts l2a tothe cam shaft bearings is substantially restricted, thereby affectingmaintenance of the proper operating oil in the lubricating system which,of course, assures delivery of an adequate supply of oil to the mainbearings 8 and sufiicient spray force of such oil for properly supplyinglubrication to the working parts, such as the wrist pins, pistons andother parts dependent for lubrication upon oil delivered through themain bearing.

The anchoring and retaining means in my d vice not only determines theproper operating position of restriction element II, but preventsoutward displacement of said element through partial vacuum when theengine is stopped and the oil cools.

It is apparent that I have invented a simple, compact, effective andinexpensive device for correcting improper distribution of oil in thelubrication systems of automobile engines in which an excessive flow ofoil exists in certain branch ducts of the system.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is? i 1. In combination with an automotive enginelubrication system having a first oil duct leading from a normallyplugged end thereof through an intersection thereof with a main oilpassage to a first bearing and a branch duct to a second bearingbranching from said first duct between said intersection and said firstbearing, oil pressure regulating means comprising, a relatively slendermember adapted to be placed in said first duct and of a length to extendfrom said normally plugged. end to a point beyond said branch duct, anenlarged element attached to one end of said member and adapted to besecured in said normally plugged end, and an oil-restrictive element ofsomewhat less diameter than said first duct attached to the remainingend of said member to be maintained thereby in said first duct beyondsaid branch ductv 2. In combination with an automotive enginelubrication system having a straight oil duct leading from a normallyplugged end thereof through an intersection thereof with a main oilpassage to a first bearing and a branch duct to a second bearingbranching from said straight duct at an angle thereto between saidintersection and said first bearing, oil pressure regulating meanscomprising, a relatively slender straight member of a length toextendfrom said normally plugged end to a point beyond said branch duct,an enlarged element attached to one end of said member and adapted to besecured in said normally plugged end, and an oil fiow restrictingelement of somewhat less diameter than said straight duct attached tothe remaining end of said member to be maintained thereby in saidstraight duct beyond said branch duct.

3. In combination with an automotive engine lubrication system having astraight oil duct leading from a plug-receiving opening through anintersection of said duct with a main oil passage to a first bearing anda branch duct to a second bearing branching off said duct generallyradially of the portion thereof between said intersection and said firstbearing, oil pressure regulating means comprising, a plug adapted to besecured in said opening, an oil restrictive element of slightly lessdiameter than said straight duct disposable therein between said branchduct and said first bearing, and a relatively slender and rigid straightelement attached at-its respective ends to said plug and saidrestrictive element and having such length as to maintain saidrestrictive element disposed as described when said plug is secured insaid opening.

4. In combination with an automotive engine lubrication system having afirst oil duct leading from an internally screw-threaded open endthereof through an intersection thereof with a main oil passage to afirst bearing and a branch duct to a second bearing branching from saidfirst duct at an angle thereto between said intersection and said firstbearing, oil pressure regulating means comprising, a screw-threaded plugadapted to be screwed into said open end, a relatively slender memberprojecting from the inner end. of said plug and of a length to extend toa point in said first duct beyond said branch duct,

and an oil flow restrictive element of somewhat less diameter than saidfirst duct attached to the free end of said member.

GLEN J. WOREL.

